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Martin previously served on the City Council from 1987 to 1996, and he served as rotational mayor from 1988 to 1990 before the city began electing mayors in 2000.

After a hiatus, Martin again served as a councilman from 2012 to 2014 before becoming mayor. He last ran for office in 2016, when he faced off against John Peschong in the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors District 1 race, which he lost.

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Candidates must submit their election petitions by Aug. 10 to qualify for the November ballot, said Kristy Buxkemper, deputy city clerk.

In addition to the mayoral election, two councilmen — John Hamon and Jim Reed — will finish their terms this year. Neither has yet announced their intention to run for re-election.

Including Martin, eight potential candidates have pulled papers to begin the process of qualifying to run for office — three for mayor and five for City Council, Buxkemper said. No candidates have yet been certified to appear on the ballot, she said.